CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) and the Communications Workers of America District 7 have reached a tentative five-year labor agreement covering about 12,000 legacy Qwest employees.
The contract, which will now be sent to the CWA bargaining unit members for ratification, represents workers in a number of Midwest and Western states, including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
"CenturyLink and the CWA are pleased that we have come to an agreement that provides our employees fair and equitable benefits and will better enable us to deliver on our mutual commitment to serve our customers," said Glen Post, CEO and president of CenturyLink, in a release.
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, CenturyLink will provide lump sum increases and pay raises. In addition, the telco will implement limitations on its ability to outsource its call center work outside of its wireline footprint and bringing back jobs that were outsourced or off shored.
Reaching agreement will likely ensure that CenturyLink will avoid any possible service installation and repair interruptions. In February, the executive board of CWA District 7 authorized setting a strike date for 13,000 CenturyLink CWA members.
CWA's previous contracts with CenturyLink, which expired on Oct. 6, 2012, were extended on a day-to-day basis while negotiations continued.
Qwest employees who work in Montana, represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 206, should complete negotiations in the coming weeks, CenturyLink said.
For more:
- see the release
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